Camu camu is an evergreen shrub native to the swampy or flooded areas of the Amazonian forests of Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia. Camu camu has dense, feathery foliage and flowers with waxy white petals. The fruit, about the size of a cherry or a large grape, has a reddish-purple skin and a pinkish-yellow pulp. The fruit is extremely acidic and sour, and must be diluted and sweetened with sugar to be palatable.
The parts of camu camu used therapeutically are the fruit and the leaves.
The camu camu fruit contains proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The fatty acids of camu camu are 53% polyunsaturated and 36% saturated. Vitamin C content is high, ranging from 1300 mg to 3000 mg per 100 grams of fruit pulp and from 2000 mg to 5000 mg per 100 grams of peel. Camu camu contains carotenoids, including lutein, beta-carotene, violaxanthin, and luteoxanthin. The mineral content of camu camu fruit includes potassium 839 mg/kg, calcium 157 mg/kg, magnesium 124 mg/kg, sodium 111 mg/kg, manganese 21 mg/kg, iron 5.3 mg/kg, and zinc 3.6 mg/kg. The fruit also contains volatile terpenes, including alpha-pinene, d-limonene, and beta-caryophyllene, as well as terpenic alcohols, including eucalyptol, fenchol, alpha-terpineol, and 4-terpineol. The anthocyanins present in the fruit include cyanidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-glucoside.
Camu camu is traditionally used for many disorders, including viral infections such as the common cold, eye disorders including cataracts, atherosclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
In Europe, it is mainly used as a natural source of vitamin C.
Scientific name(s)
Myrciaria dubia
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Vitamin C
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Several randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials (> 2), including a significant number of patients (>100), with consistently positive conclusions for the indication.
Several randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials (> 2), including a significant number of patients (>100), with positive conclusions for the indication.
One or more randomized studies, or several cohorts or epidemiological studies, with positive conclusions for the indication.
Clinical studies exist but are uncontrolled, with conclusions that may be positive or conflicting.
No clinical studies to date that can demonstrate the indication.
Camu camu has stronger antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities than a daily intake of 1500 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), as shown by a small study of 20 smokers, even though the vitamin C contents were equivalent.
Camu camu contains substances, such as potassium, that increase the bioavailability of vitamin C through absorption or excretion.
Camu camu contains antioxidants, notably vitamin C.
Drinking 70 mL of camu camu juice, which contains about 1050 mg of vitamin C, every day for 7 days reduces levels of oxidative stress markers to a greater extent than consuming 1050 mg of vitamin C in tablet form.
In adult male smokers, serum levels of total reactive oxygen species, C-reactive protein and interleukins (IL)-6 and -8 are reduced after consumption of camu camu.
Safe dosage
Adults 18 years and older: 6 g
The vitamin C content of the Camu Camu fruit is approximately 1.5%. Taking 6 g provides 95 mg of vitamin C, the recommended daily intake by EFSA for an adult.
Precautions
Kidney stones: avoid
Vitamin C can cause precipitation of urate, cystine, or oxalate stones.
Oral: fruit
70 mL
powder, juice
